Stocking 5g for Friend

[Denther]

My friend recently came to my house and saw my aquarium. He then decided he wanted one. He says he wants a 5 gallon with a swordtail, a guppy, and a peppered Cory. I'm thinking that's not enough room but am new to this so any advice would be great. Thanks guys!!

 

[lauraf]

Swordtails grow fairly large and cories are usually happier with company. If you friend wanted a few guppies and a snail, that would be fine for a 5g . . . .

 

[achase]

I agree with Laura! I would only recommend a few guppies and a snail in a 5 gallon. Or maybe suggest a betta!
Or possibly doing a shrimp tank...although I don't know how many you could keep in a 5 gallon.

 

[ValRasbora]

You could do a trio of male guppies and a few cherry shrimp! My newbie friend has something like this in a 10gal and she loooves it

I'd reccomend at least 15 gallons for swordtails, and 10 for a few cories.

 

[Denther]

Okay I think I'll talk him into a few guppies and a snail. Thanks for the speedy and helpful replies!

 

[Denther]

Now he's thinking he wants 3 guppies and 2 ghost shrimp. Would this be possible? Also, would he have to worry about breeding? Thanks!

 

[lauraf]

Three guppies and a couple ghost shrimp would be totally fine. If he doesn't want to worry about breeding, stock only male guppies - they are the most colourful anyway.

 

[Denther]

And the shrimp won't breed either?

 

[Tooj]

tell your friend to get the biggest tank he can aford, or the biggest tank he can fit in his house!
most people tend to buy a small tank thinking that itll "just do" but once you have it...its too small and they end up with multiple tank syndrome!
plus...the cost for a 5g is pretty close to the cost of a 10g imo.
on top of that, bigger tanks are easier to take care of. more water means more room for things to go wrong (not that it will, but just saying.)
i have a 3g right now that my friend gave to me (just the tank) and i bought everything else. pretty pricey for such a small tank...but my heater and filter are good enough for a 20g tank (hence the price similarities). im upgrading...not big enough.

 

[frankenfish]

i agree having first hand experience with a 5 gallon overstocked tank. try and convince to get a 10 gallon. not all that much more expensive and it really opens up a lot more possibilities with what you can do with it.

 

[lauraf]

And the shrimp won't breed either?

The guppies will probably munch any shrimp young . . . . . And yes, if you can, convince your friend that a 10g will be ever so much more fun than a 5g

 

[Denther]

Yeah. He would get bigger but price is the main problem. All he can afford now is a 5 gallon. I'll see if he can maybe get a used one. We'll see. Thanks everyone!

 

[Kiara1125]

Used aquarium kits run around half price of the original thing. If the people just want to get rid of it, then you might get it for 1/3 or 1/4 of the original price. Craigslist is a good place to look. Happy aquarium hunting!! And yes, it's 10:30 pm where I'm at right now and I'm still up. I can't go to sleep. To many Goldfish thoughts. I want a Red and White Ryukin sooo bad!!!!

 

[Denther]

I know the feeling of wanting fish. I was like that when I was setting up my 10g.

 

[Kiara1125]

Are you kidding me!? With all I know about fish now, I still can't resist the urge to buy fish whenever I go in a pet store. if it's healthy, will get along in my tank, and if it's in my price range then I'm gettin the dang fish!!

 

[Denther]

He surprised me today and came home with a 10 gallon kit. So I guess he has a 10 gallon.

Would 4 Male Guppies, a mystery snail, and 5 peppered cory's be okay in there?

Thanks!

 

[lauraf]

That would be okay, but peppered cories can get a bit larger than varietals like juliis or pandas - I'd recommend a smaller kind like those ones for a 10g.

 

[frankenfish]

He surprised me today and came home with a 10 gallon kit. So I guess he has a 10 gallon.

Would 4 Male Guppies, a mystery snail, and 5 peppered cory's be okay in there?

Thanks!

absolutely. you could put more in there too

 

[Denther]

Ok thanks!!

 

[Kiara1125]

You should get some Pygmy Cories. They only get to about an inch, they are adorable, fun to watch, and they are cheap. My lfs has them for $2 each. You could get 4. Only $8 right there. Pretty cheap, huh??